THE 2020 Warrnambool and District league grand final was pencilled in for this weekend. But with the coronavirus pandemic wiping out the entire season, The Standard has decided to take a walk down memory lane. Katie Burt reflects on East Warrnambool's first and only WDFNL A grade netball premiership.
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"When the full-time whistle went, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life."
Katie Burt remembers East Warrnambool's 2009 flag with fondness and loves sharing stories of that moment in the club's history.
The Bombers won their first and only A grade premiership in the Warrnambool and District league.
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Burt, playing-coach that day, said there was an unsung hero, her assistant coach Gary Hayes.
"He deserves as much credit as I do for the win," she said.
Hayes gave her crucial advice during grand final week.
Burt was happy to reveal something her players might not even know.
"Gary's first piece of advice was to not get cross at the girls for going out on the Saturday night after the final to get into the grand final," she said.
"I was a strict coach and he said 'let it go Katie, the focus is this week'."
Burt said Hayes taught her the balance between fun and hard work.
The Bombers were a diligent team, they trained Monday and Wednesday and sometimes Friday, from pre-season right to grand final day.
The toughest decision Burt had to make that week was delivering the news Jo Bridge and Katie Ryan would share half a game each. The Bombers had eight players.
"It was how they both were going to handle the news which would set us up for the week; to this day that was a huge win for our team the way in which they handled it," she said.
Burt said her girls executed the game plan to perfection.
She felt blessed to have the full support of the club and players.
"I was never questioned on any decisions I ever made," she said.
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